Halogen headlights

[Brian]

HID Zenon
I have been thinking about these uprated lamps. You can get a kit on ebay now for about 60quid, and they are meant to be that much better again.
Anyone tried them yet?

I know someone with these on a Stag - he says they are amazing. This is the route I intend to go down with my PI and Stag, eventually!

Brian

[Alec]

Hello Andy,

it was not fitted to the MK1, just (some?) MK 2s, and contrary to most (what's new?) I think the idea is a good one, with the drawback of added complication as regards reliability excepted.

If the brake and indicators are bright enough for daylight, surely it makes sense to dim them at night, to reduce dazzle. It certainly would be beneficial with the modern trend to keep the footbrake applied at rest.

Alec

[David Withers]

My car had the night-time brake/indicator light dimmer until 1998. I removed it because I felt that it made the lights too dim in comparison with the other cars on the road (even with the new rear light clusters that I'd fitted) and therefore increased the danger of a collision, especially in conditions of poor visibilty or when following drivers were inattentive.

Automatic brake/indicator light dimming when the main lights are switched on is a good thing, but only if all road vehicles have the system. On the other hand, I think dimmed headlights as running lights is excellent even if it's not universal.

On Alec's final point, I hope none of us Triumph drivers is selfish enough to sit at traffic lights, junctions or railway crossings with foot on brake pedal!

[CAR]

On Alec's final point, I hope none of us Triumph drivers is selfish enough to sit at traffic lights, junctions or railway crossings with foot on brake pedal!

Don't forget that apart from the nuisance this causes to those behind, and the obvious lack of pride in driving that it suggests (just like cars left with wipers halfway up the screen!), the brake lights are consuming power and putting a needless extra strain on the battery and charging system. Our cars may never be paticularly green (unless your car is Java) in fuel usage terms, but why waste extra petrol.

Colin.

[andyborris]

Not just all the above, but also heat soak after a "spirited drive" can warp discs!

And

[sorbs]

I admit to being lazy and keeping my foot on the brake when I wait at traffic lights in the 2000 but it's an automatic and that's what you're supposed to do with an automatic...............It's not as if the 2000's brake lights are going to dazzle anyone.

I'm also too lazy to disconnect my night dimming relay although I admit that there have been a few close calls involving motorists who've failed to notice that I'm slowing at a greater rate than they are.........I tend to put that down to their stupidity and lack of observation rather than admitting to any intrinsic fault with my car.

[Alec]

Hello Sorbs,

"but it's an automatic and that's what you're supposed to do with an automatic"

Why is it any different, select neutral and put the handbrake on if you feel it's necessary?
Surely it's not too difficult to anticipate when you are about to move off and select the gear then?

Forgive me if I add another manoeuvre that is common and a slight modification to driving style could enhance traffic flow. So many approaching a tee, to turn right, start close to the kerb and initiate their turn before the dotted line. This in so many cases, blocks a car behind who may wish to turn left. It is better to approach right on the centre line, pull right up to the dotted give way line and if clear proceed, this is the time to start turning, not before. As most junctions are a trumpet layout in plan this gives sufficient room for those directly behind to go left. Simples, as they say on the advert.

Alec

[Jonathan Lewis]

"but it's an automatic and that's what you're supposed to do with an automatic"

Why is it any different, select neutral and put the handbrake on if you feel it's necessary?
Surely it's not too difficult to anticipate when you are about to move off and select the gear then?

Hello Alec,

Actually, Borg-Warner did used to advise against putting cars equipped with their automatic transmissions into Neutral for short traffic stops – apparently the shift from Drive to Neutral and back again is quite hard on the transmission’s internals, and doing it for each and every short stop can quite significantly shorten the life of the unit. This advice was certainly current into the mid-1980s (B-W Model 66). That said, for anything more than perhaps 20-30 seconds’ standing, it does seem sensible to me to put the transmission into Neutral to (a) save on fuel, (b) reduce unnecessary sustained load on the transmission and (c) remove the need to hold the car on the footbrake.

Your other comments, relating to matters of basic roadcraft and courtesy towards other road users, will draw no argument from me…

Regards,

[Alec]

Hello Jonathan,

thank you for that information, I have very little experience with automatic transmission apart from our fork lift truck. That said, there is a perfectly good (or should be) handbrake which is what should be used if a brake is required?

Alec

[Mike Stevens]

I'm with Sorbs on the auto/footbrake thing. For short stops (a few seconds but without a real definition of 'few') I just keep the footbrake on. For times longer than a 'few' seconds, I put it into neutral and if necessary apply the handbrake. It certainly is the norm with autos. Note this is with the Jaguar. All the current Triumphs are manual (although we did have an auto and did much the same as above). With the manuals I agree about stopping and then using the handbrake if necessary to stay still.

For those interested, the Night Dimming Relay was fitted to 'early' Mk2 cars and on saloons is fitted behind the LH boot side trim and is a blue thing about 3" cube- ish. The simplest way to 'remove' it is to disconnect it's black ground wire. The relay will then not operate and the lights will stay in full power mode. I have it disconnected in both the 2000 and PI.

Actually, it's a bit more complex than just a simple multi-contact relay. There are some resistors in there to keep the power drawn by the rear indicators the same when on low power to keep the flash rate constant! Clever eh?

Cheers,
Mike.